We all work from home now. Maybe not full time; perhaps you just pay bills, organize your inbox, and do research on your larger life decisions when you get home from the office. Regardless, there are a few areas to be vigilant when it comes to your home workspace:

• Setting
• Organization & Clutter
• Maintaining Purpose

When it comes to setting, plan your work area well from the beginning. Choose an area that is out of the way, low-traffic, and where you have some natural light. We all have different preferences, so consider variables like external noise, walkways, and the view you will have while working. Make deliberate decisions that will help you feel at ease.

Organization and clutter can be closely related. While some people prefer open work surfaces with no decoration, others might choose to forgo such space and opt for a decor that entails more mementos, color, or houseplants. No matter which category you fall into, the importance here lies in maintaing your baseline. Don't let stacks of papers, unopened mail, or drinking glasses accumulate. Be strict with yourself in maintaining your work area as you set out to create it from the get-go.

Being serious about staying on task is paramount. While breaks are necessary--you've got to stretch, rest your eyes, and rehydrate--you should be serious about your purpose while you are at work. Remind distracting people that you are at work. Make sure your breaks are defined and keep them short. Make sure you are showered and dressed, just as if you were heading to the office.

These pointers are simple, but you will be productive. You will be surprised at how you can use tibits of basic human psychology to trick yourself into getting enhanced results.

“If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.”
― Samuel Butler